Dismantle The Sun

Chapter 21

Intergalatic Regent Emprorer of the Galaxies Agravaine sat expectantly in his throne. The darkness of his thoughts swirled about him like a miasma of darkness. He had waited for this moment, for the fruition of all his dark machinations that had sprawled across the galaxy for years, insidiously infecting the darkest reaches of the universe with something darker still. And in every corner, every cranny of the vastness of space whispers had been passed back through his network of spies about the daring do of the blonde man and his crew, who now stood afronting him.

The legends spoke for themselves, of the dread space pirate, Arthur Rothwell, who stormed through the galaxy stealing cargo and hearts from everyone he left in the wake of whichever ship he had commandeered. His crew about him, loyal as hands are to each other, and as well oiled as a machine. The story of the chaos his reduced crew had wrecked through the intergalactic ball, sweeping his men aside like a nuisantanical fly gatecrashing a picnic to steal a bite of sweetness in the sweltering heat of mid-July in a meadow line with daisies and buttercups and all the wild weeds of summer, is swept aside by a deft hand imbued with the elements of surprise and grace. His reputation preceded him.

Agravaine let a gentle smile play with his thin lips across his sallow waxen face, the relish of anticipation a condiment to his emotions. He had lain in wait for this moment, when the blonde would be across the room from him, half-destroyed by love and at his mercy. But Agravaine had no mercy.

"Arthur my nephew: heir to the throne: son of uther pendragon: I am going to kill you" he anounced, eyes the only thing rising from the throne, his voice a masculine purr of confidence.

By his side Leo too purred, louder. And finally one of Arthur's men spoke gingerly.

"That's LEo! I told you not to let him on the ship!" The pirate turned to his handsome crewmate who stood, grimacing sheepinngly, his dark eyes had been fixed with resolute sadness on the cat until this point, but at the other man's words they transmorphed to anger.

"What are you insinuating, Leon!? Leo's one of us" he asked, his voice a strong Irish brogue.

"One of us?! He's sitting right there," the first man, Leon, screamed gesturing at the cat, "next to Agravaine!"

"You can't know he's done anything. He could have just... wandered off after we landed." Gwaine countered, throwing the cat an unconvinced look. Agravaine laughed.

"Oh my spy here, he's been instrumental at passing messages, he's bugged you see" he revealed, unclipping a small listening and tracking device from the ruff of Leo's neck.

"He's bugged. Of course he's bugged! I told you he was no good. Pets befoul the ship! This is why we keep getting attacked! Because your bloody pet has been telling our literal enemies where we are." Leon screamed.

"He didn't know what he was doing, he's just a cat." Gwaine defended.

"You let a bugged cat on the ship?!" Elayn asked, angry.

"He's not-" Gwaine started

"Christ, Gwaine, didn't you even think?!" Elyan continued.

"Why didn't you check him over for bugs?" asked Percy, the communications expert. Gwaine huffed.

"Oh well Percy, we can't all be communications experts now can we?!" he asked in sarcastic anger. "Why didn't you check him for bugs?! Is that your job?"

"I'm not security!" exclaimed Percy, waiving his burly arms out in fetid frustration.

"We're pirates! We're all security!" Gwain rejoindered in exasperation, loudly, his voice raised in an unnecessary shout, Arthur stepped in, his attention pulled from Merlin to the argument happening before him.